Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) received $300,000 in MDCP award funds to help the U.S. RV industry to generate sales in China, Japan, and Korea.One year into the project, RVIA has now hired a full-time representative who lives and works in East Asia. To date the project has generated $7 million in exports. This is the tip of the iceberg. Sales measured in hundreds of millions of dollars per year are on the horizon, especially in China. But these cannot happen until China addresses standards and regulatory issues. As part of the its MDCP project RVIA will provide information and education to help resolve these kinds of issues. This support will be both policy-oriented and practical. This means, for example, demonstrating how to operate an RV and tow a trailer.

RVIA helped a member company sell this temporary beauty shop in Japan. It replaces a beauty shop that was destroyed in the recent tsunami. Selling temporary shelters in Japan is a small part of a bigger project to help U.S. RV-makers to sell products in China especially, but also in Japan and Korea. Read more about the RVIA project in tradeology.

MDCP Awards: Industry Groups Can Get Up to $300,000 for Foreign Market Development ProjectsEach year, ITA makes several financial assistance awards to industry groups to pursue projects that help U.S. firms export and create jobs. Take a look at our flyer then find out more about getting funds to help on our About MDCP page.

2015 MDCP Applications Likely Due Apri 27Start now to prepare your application for MDCP funding. See How to Apply for more details. Applications will probably be due April 27, 2015. Announcement date is pushed back to first week of March at the earliest. As soon as we have official dates we will announce them.

Differences Between the 2015 and 2014 AnnouncementsOur best guess at when the 2015 federal funding opportunity notice (FFO) will be published is noted above. Until that time, use the FFO published for the 2014 competition as a guide. Two differences are worth noting for 2015.1. All applicants can claim an indirect cost rate of 10% of total direct costs. 2. Minimum project period is three (3) years with a maximum of five (5) years. Our new mock application incorporates these changes.

March 11: Let's Talk About Crafting a Good MDCP Export ProjectPlease join us for our public meeting, March 11, 2015 at 2 pm EDT. Review tips on drafting good project plans. Examine templates that can can streamline your budget preparation. Find out how to generate information for required forms. Ask questions and benefit from questions by others.

You can participate in person at the Herbert C. Hoover Building, 1401 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC. The meeting will be held in Room 1411. Many interested parties may prefer to participate via conference call. We will be referring extensively to trade.gov/mdcp. Dial-in on: 203-280-9578 6504789#

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MDCP Information

Who from ITA Works with MDCP Award Winners?In addition to MDCP Director Brad Hess, MDCP award winners will work with a team of ITA professionals who can help them accomplish project goals. You can search for likely ITA team members using the directories on line 4 of Step-by-Step Application Process.

Exports Create Jobs
A couple of years ago it was estimated that a $180,000 increase in exports creates one U.S. job. (A study on jobs and exports of 2013 trade and employment data indicates that $ billion in exports creates or sustains 5,590 jobs. Or, about $180,000 in exports creates or sustains one U.S. job, $1,000,000,000/5,590=$178,890.) Because exporting creates or sustains U.S. jobs, MDCP projects contribute to the prosperity of U.S. workers.